Whose version of the battle is this? Why is this important to note?Heraclius gathered [a] large Byzan-funded to the inhabitants of Hims the [land tax] they had taken from them
saying, “We are too busy to support and
protect you. Take care of yourselves.”
But the people of Hims replied, “We
like your rule and justice far better than
the state of oppression and tyranny in
which we were. The army of Heraclius
we shall indeed … repulse from the
city.” … Saying this, they closed the
gates of the city and guarded them….
When by Allah’s help the “unbelievers”
were defeated and the Moslems won,
they opened the gates of their cities,
went out with the singers and music
players who began to play, and paid the
[land tax].tine army … numbering about 200,000.
This army he put under the command of
one of his choice men…. The Moslems
gathered together and the [Byzantine]
army marched against them. The battle
they fought at al-Yarmuk was of the
fiercest and bloodiest kind…. In this
battle 24,000 Moslems took part. The
[Byzantines] and their followers in the
battle tied themselves to each other by
chains, so that no one might set his hope
on flight. By Allah’s help, some 70,000
of them were put to death….